Consumerist
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product safety
Blair Sued For $30 Million Over Bath Robe Death
Among the nine people who have died from injuries sustained after their chenille bath robes caught fire was 80-year-old Atwilda Brown. Now her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that sold (and twice recalled) the robes, Blair LLC. More » -
recalls
More Dead Infants Prompt Re-Recall Of Simplicity Bassinet
The CPSC has issued a second recall of convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets made by Simplicity after learning of two additional infant deaths since the bassinets were recalled last August. Here is a Consumer Reports video explaining the dangers of the recalled bassinets. More » -
breaking
Obama Picks CPSC Head So They Can Finally Do Their Job
Obama nominated Inez Moore Tenenbaum as Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) head and Robert Adler as commissioner. He is also also Congress for $107 million more in funding and plans on beefing up the total number of commissioners to five. [Reuters] (Photo: ashi) -
martha stewart
These Martha Stewart/Kmart Lounge Chairs Keep Cutting Off Fingertips
Holy $#!@, this lounge chair will eat your fingers! Fox5 New York has a video report on dangerously unsafe lounge chairs sold at Kmart under the Martha Stewart brand. Naturally (we're not making this up), the chairs are designed to complement the Martha Stewart Spontaneously Shattering Glass Patio Tables also sold at Kmart. More » -
someone think of the children
Consumer Groups To Obama: Please Put Someone With A Brain In Charge Of The CPSC
There's been a lot of talk lately about how the upcoming implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law requires that all children's products be tested for lead and has caused a major freak out amongst librarians (who don't really want to test their books for lead, or ban children from the library) and thrift stores (who can't afford to test used toys for lead). Apparently, according to consumer groups that support the bill, the CPSC is supposed to be monitoring this situation and adding exceptions as needed, but has been ignoring the issue. Now those groups are asking President Obama for a change of leadership within the CPSC. Read their letter inside. More » -
consumer product safety improvement act
Hooray! CPSC Agrees To Exempt Some Natural Items From Product Safety Act
Step back from the ledge, makers of lovingly hand-carved wooden dolls: the Consumer Product Safety Commission has lurched into action and tentatively agreed to exempt some materials and items from the lead-testing requirements in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. More » -
safety
Got Kids? Glass Coffee Tables Can Be Crazy Dangerous
An 11-year-old girl from Providence, R.I. recently died after falling into or jumping on a glass table. She suffered a severe puncture wound and died of uncontrollable bleeding. More » -
whoops
Tales Of Consumer Reports Employees Injuring Themselves With Products
Nobody is perfect, it seems, not even the folks at safety-conscious Consumer Reports. They've put together a group of stories from employees who managed to injure themselves with various products. More » -
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4th of july
Video: Fireworks Are Fun Until They Blow Up In Your Pants
Enjoy yourselves out there this 4th, folks, but do remember to be careful with those fireworks, as seen in this edited version of the CPSC fireworks safety video set to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It's funny when mannequins blow up. Your hands, jeans, or the desk in front of your face, not so much. More » -
product safety
Senate Votes For Safer Products, Approves Consumer Product Safety Commission Overhaul
The Senate finally voted last week to send the ailing Consumer Product Safety Commission desperately needed funds, staff, and powers. The overdue reform bill passed with bipartisan support on a 79-13 vote. More » -
product safety
CPSC Wants To Make Retailers Test Products They Sell
If pending legislation passes, the CPSC may make retailers test their wares, and make retailers legally responsible for the products they sell. CPSC chair Nancy Nord said yesterday at a press conference, "the ultimate responsibility at the end of the day to make sure that their products are safe and if they do not, we will take enforcement activity at the product sellers." More »
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warnings
Common Waterproofing Sprays May Cause Lung Problems, But CPSC Won't Warn You About It
Several cheap waterproofing sprays—like Kenyon Water Repellent, Jobsite Heavy Duty Bootmate, Rocky Boot Weather and Stain Protector, and Stand 'n Seal grout sealer—can cause "shortness of breath, persistent cough and in some cases long-term lung injuries," writes the New York Times. Unfortunately, you won't see warnings on any of these products, because the CPSC keeps ignoring state requests to do something about it. More » -
government
White House Is Proposing Its Own Version Of Product Safety Plan
Today the White House will announce its own plan for how to tighten the country's slack product safety practices. The proposal is being offered as an alternative to the one Congress has come up with, which the White House—along with industry trade groups and Consumer Product Safety Commission head Nancy A. Nord—think is too mean to manufacturers. More » -
product safety
China Arrests 774 People Over Safety Issues
China has arrested nearly 800 people over the past two months in a "nationwide crackdown on the production and sale of tainted food, drugs and agricultural products," writes the New York Times. The country announced the number officially today on their website, but did not provide details on the violations involved. The announcement is part of a larger campaign to not only rehabilitate China's image around the world, but to address concerns that its domestic products are even less likely to be safe. More » -
someone think of the children
FDA Says No Cough Syrup For Toddlers Without Doctor Approval
The FDA is warning parents not to give cough syrup to children under 2 without doctor approval after becoming concerned about the number of children where were overdosing on OTC syrup. The FDA will also convene a panel of experts to evaluate the use of cold medicines in children. More » -
cars
Chinese "Brilliance" Car Doesn't Look Very Smart In Crash Tests
Here's footage of some nice German people crash testing (40mph, offset) a Chinese car called the BS6. According to the Auto Blog, the CEO of Brilliance said "this very model, the BS6, would be imported to the US either later this year or in 2008." We don't know a whole lot about cars, but we know that when they get a 1 star rating, that's bad. —MEGHANN MARCO More » -
product safety
77 Expiration Dates For Household Goods, Food And Beauty Products
How long does ketchup last? Olives? Dry pasta? Real Simple has contacted manufacturers and experts and put together a list of suggested expiration dates for 77 different types of food, household goods and beauty products. Some interesting ones: More »
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